Top marks for FFXII
Final Fantasy XII is almost ready to be released to the masses of die hard fans in Japan. Popular Japanese gaming site Famitsu has reviewed the game and given it a whopping 40/40, a score only matched by the likes of The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time, and Soul Caliber.
Since its debut in 1987, the Final Fantasy series has sold over 63 million units worldwide. With its cutting-edge visuals, unique worlds, and intricate narrative, Final Fantasy has defined the role-playing genre, and continues to be adored by fans across the globe.
Story-line
War was on the horizon. Seeking to strengthen its base of power, the great Archadian Empire had been invading and subjugating its neighboring kingdoms one by one. The small Kingdom of Dalmasca, the stage on which this tale is set, was one such kingdom.Release dates outside of Japan have yet to be announced.
When the occupying Archadian forces established a new consul in Dalmasca's Royal City of Rabanastre, it caught the attention of Vaan, an urchin living on the streets. To Vaan, the Empire was a hated enemy who had taken the life of his brother—his last surviving family member. Vaan hatched a plan to sneak into the castle housing the new consul and pay him a surprise visit of sorts. Once inside, he thought to unburden the consul of one or two of his treasures. But before he would have the chance, Vaan got far more than he bargained for; a resistance movement of former Dalmascan soldiers rising up against the Archadian Empire was launching an assault!
Amid the ensuing confusion that engulfed the castle, Vaan saw something he could scarcely believe. There, among the members of the resistance, was the figure of the sole remaining heir to the Dalmascan throne, the Princess Ashe, who'd been given up for missing...
Our story follows Vaan, Ashe, Vaan's friend Penelo, the sky pirate Balthier, his partner Fran and many more on an adventure through Ivalice that traces the mysteries behind the Archadian Empire's invasion.
Every aspect of the graphics brings color to the world of Ivalice—blues and oranges reminiscent of the Mediterranean evoke a landscape alive with a mix of European and Arabian imagery. A world of many races, the humes, bangaa, viera and, of course, moogles, all call Ivalice home. Airships feature prominently in Final Fantasy XII. They come in all shapes and sizes—the main airship in this story is a medium-sized craft that measures over 1,000 feet from bow to stern. Airships abound in Ivalice and are used for everything from the trading of goods to the waging of war.
The story isn't all that's new—experience an evolved battle system with numerous features never before seen in the Final Fantasy series. Ivalice sounds better, too, with in-game events and movie scenes presented in Dolby Pro Logic II. Final Fantasy XII is a title that shows the new possibilities of the series and surely holds surprises in wait for its many fans. It is a title that keeps to the series' tradition of change and attempts to elevate games to ever-higher levels.
